The law offices of W. Jeffrey Leonard boasts over 34 years of legal experience. We are a general practice, but specialize in business law, criminal defense, and personal injury. I focus my practice on helping companies protect, maintain, and grow their businesses by taking the time to understand: 1) how your company makes money, 2) your plans for growth, 3) who your customers and competitors are, and 4) your potential regulatory and legal pitfalls. From that starting point our firm will help you better identify risk and develop solutions to protect your business.

Michael Kraemer is one of the founding partners of KM&A. Michael leads the employment legal team and works on the major litigation cases handled by the firm. He primarily represents employees and former employees regarding their legal issues, but also works with small businesses and parties in civil litigation. Michael represents clients near the firm’s headquarters in Pittsburgh and across Pennsylvania. Before forming KM&A, Michael founded and managed Kraemer Law Firm, LLC. He centered his practice on employment law issues and, along with an associate attorney, helped a large number of clients achieve successful outcomes in their cases. Recognizing...

President/Managing Attorney, since January 1, 1999 of Law Offices of Eric A. Shore. Eric A. shore has helped more than 40,000 injured and disabled workers to receive a total of more than $250,000,000 in settlements and expected lifetime benefits. Areas of Practice: Social Security Disability, Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation

Emily E. Town practices in the areas of employment law, civil rights litigation, and labor law. Emily received a B.A. in Justice from American University (2004) and graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (2010). At Pitt Law, she was Senior Topics Editor of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review, and the recipient of the W. Edward and Cordelia F. Sell Scholarship and CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Torts. During law school, Emily served as a Research Assistant to Professor Jules Lobel, helping to draft articles regarding prisoners’ rights, national security policy,...

I started doing unemployment law while attending Duquesne University School of Law. I represented low income individuals in obtaining unemployment compensation benefits. When I graduated Law School, I branched out into employment law and I absolutely love it. I get to help individuals who have been discriminated against due to race, gender, disability, etc. I get to help individuals (who are backed up against a wall) go against giant companies. My passion for the job results in great success for my clients.

Maureen has been an advocate of workers’ rights since her participation in a university living wage campaign in Baltimore in the mid-1990s. As a lawyer, she is a vigorous advocate who focuses on employment, employee benefits, civil rights, and class action litigation. Maureen has represented plaintiffs in multiple class-action cases, including Yost et al v. First Horizon National Corporation, (W.D. Tenn.) (conditionally certifying classes June 3, 2011). Maureen also represents individuals in employment matters, including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and contract cases.

Attorney Mart Harris joined Kraemer, Manes & Associates in 2015. He brings a new perspective to the firm as an attorney with his roots in criminal law. In addition to criminal defendants, Attorney Harris represents individuals suffering from employment discrimination; those seeking unemployment or workers compensation benefits and clients involved in domestic relations disputes. Licensed throughout Pennsylvania, Attorney Harris is not bound to the firm’s Pittsburgh headquarters. Mart’s practice is intensely focused on litigation. He spends the majority of his time either preparing for Court, negotiating with opposing counsel, or litigating in Civil and Criminal Courtrooms....

Attorney John Stember concentrates on employment and labor matters, including sexual harassment, employee pension and health benefits and ERISA. He regularly represents executives in negotiation and enforcement of employment contracts and severance packages, and in actions involving non-competes. He also represents a number of Unions, including the Arena Football Players Union (AFLPU) and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) at KDKA and WQED.
Over the last decade, John has litigated a number of ERISA and benefit class actions against some of Americaâs largest companies that tried to eliminate or reduce retiree healthcare. These cases involved thousands of union retirees, including...

I am a solo practitioner in Pittsburgh, PA. I represent employees in various matters, including employment discrimination, wage and hour complaints, contractual disputes and negotiations, and unemployment appeals.

Mr. Ernsberger was a founding partner of the law firm of Behrend and Ernsberger, and is now a shareholder in its successor, Behrend and Ernsberger, P.C. with offices in the City of Pittsburgh. Mr. Ernsberger has been engaged primarily in trial practice for twenty years, having in that time tried approximately 50 civil jury trials of various types and degrees of complexity and settled many others. The claims litigated include medical malpractice, RICO, ERISA, Fair Labor Standards Act, consumer protection, trademark infringement, patent infringement, patent mismarking, Federal False Claims, products liability, multi-unit construction contracts, employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, insurance fraud,...

Since 1976, Melvin L. Vatz has been faithfully providing legal counsel and guidance to clients. As a Pittsburgh lawyer, he handles a comprehensive range of cases. Whether you have been injured on the job, hurt in an accident, charged with a crime, or caught up in an employment law issue, Attorney Mel is there for you. He has tried cases in both federal and state courts and has taken on major appeals. With nearly 40 years of legal experience, Mel is the advocate you want in your corner. As a former Assistant District Attorney in Allegheny County, he brings a...

Employment law governs the relationship between workers and their employers. This law, contained in federal and state statutes, administrative regulations, and judicial decisions, specifies the rights and restrictions applicable to each party in the workplace.

This area of law regulates such issues as employee benefits, discipline, hiring, firing, leave, payroll, and health and safety in the workplace. It also encompasses non-compete agreements, retaliation, severance, unemployment compensation, pensions, whistle-blowing, worker classification, wage garnishment, work authorization for non-U.S. citizens, worker's compensation, and employee handbooks.

Both federal and state laws govern the relationship between employees and employers. Federal laws such as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibit employers from discriminating against employees based on certain characteristics. Many states have enacted their own laws similar to federal ones (and sometimes are more stringent). Cities and counties also can enact ordinances that affect employee rights, such as local minimum wage laws.

Employment lawyers can choose to accept only employees as clients, only employers, or both. Some attorneys focus on a specific area of employment law, such as workers' compensation, whistleblowing or discrimination, but many can handle a wide range of employment law issues.

Essential job functions:
The fundamental job duties of the employment position that the individual with a disability holds or desires. The term essential functions does not include marginal functions of the position.

Exempt employee:
An employee who is not entitled to the minimum wage or overtime pay protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act.